2011 smart fortwo

smart fortwo Expert Review

Smart's Fortwo is the smallest mainstream vehicle available in the U.S. today. For some, that's reason enough to buy the diminutive vehicle, which is offered in coupe and convertible forms.

Years after the brand's January 2008 debut in the U.S., Fortwo coupes and convertibles still cause passersby to stare and point. You could fit the Fortwo and its 106.1-inch length inside the wheelbase of a Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The Fortwo is four-and-a-half feet shorter overall than the Volkswagen New Beetle, another iconic design.

Move beyond the Fortwo's inimitable style and the Smart car's appeal begins to slip. Fuel economy on the coupe and convertible is 33 mpg city/41 mpg highway. Not a bad showing with its 5-speed automated manual transmission and 70-horsepower 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine…until you consider its upcoming competition. The larger and more powerful 2011 Ford Fiesta, for example, will be rated as high as 29 mpg city/40 mpg highway.

Even that American subcompact, though, can't touch the Smart Fortwo's unique style or low price: the Ford's price is more than $1000 higher than the Fortwo.

Smart is now offering a Kenwood navigation system that can be integrated into the dash of the car. Also new on the Fortwo is the smart drive app, which pairs the iPhone with the car. Once the iPhone is placed in the specially designed phone cradle, it becomes a media and navigation hub for driver and passenger --provided the owner pays the yearly navigation upgrade charge of $49.99.

Smart's designers use the car's Tridion safety cell as a focal point of the profile view. The steel cage can be ordered in a contrasting color to the doors around which it wraps.

Smart Fortwos can be ordered with bright-colored interior panels as well as two whimsical dashboard gauges: a clock and a rev counter. A navigation system is available.

The Smart Fortwo's 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine can keep up with most traffic as long as you are in no hurry. Accelerating from 0-60 mph will take 12.8 seconds. Handling of the 1808-pound car is stable as the Fortwo is wide for its length and the rear tires are wider than the front tires.